Henry C. Beck Middle School student Jameson Armstrong wanted to talk about an issue that has his school’s Climate Action Club concerned.
So he talked at the March 9 township council meeting, contending that while Beck students put their waste in a trash can and recycling bin inside school, outside, both types of trash fall into the same kind of dumpster.
“The thing we do at schools is paperwork, paperwork, paperwork,” Armstrong explained. “But if we’re making an environmental change to the way we do these things and the ways we throw out these papers, it’s such a small change, but it makes a … statement toward how we can improve our environmental change in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.”
During member comments at the meeting, mayor and Beck alum David Fleisher told Armstrong that when he meets with school superintendent Kwame Morton, he will discuss the issue and connect the student with the right person in the school district.
Councilwoman Sangeeta Doshi said that she appreciates Armstrong’s concern and welcomed him to join the council’s green team.
“We’re looking for student and youth input all the time,” she said, “so that would be great.”
Councilwoman Jill Hulnick emphasized the impact of student voices on issues.
“What I really want to tell you is that your voice matters here,” she promised. “And I want to bring that message back to your peers, that your voice matters here and the township council is listening.”
Council Vice President Michele Golkow liked what Armstrong had to say.
“It sounds like our mayor and others are going to point you in the right direction,” she noted. “I also really liked your message about small things, one person and one person’s dumpster and how important it is for one person or one thing to make a difference.
“So thank you for being here tonight and sharing that inspiring message with us.”
Nina Baratti, the district’s public information officer, said in a statement that Beck already has two dumpsters for trash and two for recycling.
“Henry C. Beck Middle School has two 8-yard waste containers and two 8-yard recycle containers that are all lifted several times per week,” she explained. “District administration has had and will continue to have conversations with staff and students at Beck regarding trash and recycling disposal.”
But based on pictures of the school, it’s unclear which unlabeled dumpsters are for recycling and which are for trash.
Dumpsters at Henry C. Beck Middle School are emptied several times a week, according to the district.
At Thomas Paine Elementary and Cherry Hill High School West, the dumpsters are labeled with trash only and recycling only stickers. But at Carusi Middle School, four dumpsters behind the building specify which two are for trash; it is not clear if the other two are for recycling.
